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An attorney who had defaulted on charges of theft of entrusted funds was disbarred by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The court described the charges as follows:

The Petition alleges Sletten was the attorney
for Anita Hopkins, an elderly widow. Sletten informed Hopkins her
estate could have a substantial tax burden and she should reduce her
estate through a gifting plan. Hopkins turned over approximately
$300,000 in certificates of deposit and other investments to Sletten,
which he held in his trust account. Hopkins died in November, 2005,
without having named any gift beneficiaries. By June 2007, Sletten
transferred funds held for Hopkins from his trust account for his
personal use, along with an additional $40,000 belonging to another
client.

On July 24, 2007, an Amended
Petition for Discipline was filed. The Amended Petition asserts that in
2005 Sletten assisted in the sale of a farm owned by Richard and
Elizabeth Conklin. The proceeds from the sale totaled approximately
$180,000, which was held in Sletten's trust account. Approximately
$84,000 of the Conklins' money was used for Sletten's personal or
office use without the client's knowledge or consent.

The Amended Petition further asserts Sletten held money in his trust
account for client Sally Mehlhoff. Sletten gave Mehlhoff a check from
his trust account in the amount of $11,822.95, but when Mehlhoff tried
to negotiate the check she was told there were insufficient funds to
pay the check. The money was used for Sletten's personal or office use
without the client's knowledge or consent.

The Amended Petition further asserts Sletten was the attorney for the
Nels Peterson Estate and took in excess of $100,000 from the Estate for
personal or office use without the client's knowledge or consent.
Finally, the Amended Petition asserts Sletten was the attorney for the
John Vanderwerff Estate, which owned lots in Garrison. Sletten sold the
lots for $12,000, and after taxes, the remaining amount of $5,835.76
was paid to the Sletten Law Office. After paying some minor costs,
Sletten took approximately $5,508.76 from the Estate for his personal
or office use without the client's knowledge or consent.

The court also ordered restitution as part of the discipline. (Mike Frisch)